Forests is directed by the Artistic Director of Barcelona Internacional Teatre, Calixto Bieito, who is no stranger to Birmingham audiences, having previously directed Hamlet and Celestina at The REP, both of which stimulated controversy and earned critical acclaim. One of the most prominent and sought after directors in Europe, Calixto’s re-workings of the classics test boundaries and provoke reaction with their spellbinding and passionate vitality.

'I am honoured to be working with Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company once again and to be part of the unprecedented collaboration that is the World Shakespeare Festival. The forest has always played a dramatic role in English literature, from Chaucer to Wordsworth, and no more so than in Shakespeare’s work. Many of Shakespeare’s literary references to nature focus on the forest’s life giving and protective qualities, but as in fairytales and folklore, Shakespeare also uses the forest in his plays to represents man’s greatest fears of danger, death, destruction and evil. It is Shakespeare’s rich material that will inspire Forests.'
Calixto Bieito, Director of Forests (pictured - photo by Paco Amate)

'The REP is delighted to be working with Calixto Bieito again and to be producing a show for the World Shakespeare Festival. It’s particularly pleasing to be doing such an intriguing and innovative version of Shakespeare as Forests in the very theatre in Birmingham where our founder Sir Barry Jackson produced the first modern-dress Shakespeare production 80 years ago. I’m sure that Forests at the Old Rep Theatre will be a major highlight of our 2012 offsite season.'
Stuart Rogers, Executive Director, Birmingham Repertory Theatre

• Director Calixto Bieito
• Set Designer Rebecca Ringst
• Costume Designer Ingo Krügler
• Dramaturgy Marc Rosich and Calixto Bieito
• Cast Roser Cami
• Cast Josep Maria Pou

• Sat 15 Sept Captioned Performance
• Thu 13 Sept BSL Interpreted Performance
• Thu 13 Sept Audio Described Performance

Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company joins forces with internationally renowned director Calixto Bieito and Barcelona Internacional Teatre to present an original play inspired by Shakespeare’s references to forests throughout his work, in a Dante-esque journey through life, paradise, hell, truth and lies.  

With a cast of English and Catalan actors, led by the great Catalan actor Josep Maria Pou, Calixto Bieito will show, through plays such as Timon Of Athens, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, King Lear, Macbeth and As You Like It, a “forest” which represents a place for the getaway, a punishment or sentence, and, sometimes, a place for shelter and redemption.  

Calixto Bieito is no stranger to UK audiences, having previously directed at ENO, WNO, the Barbican, Edinburgh International Festival and Birmingham Repertory Theatre. One of the most prominent and sought after directors in Europe, Calixto’s re-workings of the classics test boundaries and provoke reaction with their spellbinding and passionate vitality.  

Performed in Catalan and English with surtitles.